One of the good things Gov. Jerry Brown of California did in 1976 was to establish the California Conservation Corps. These young men and woman (ages 17 to 25) do a variety of tasks in the outdoors, e.g.,
clearing and building hiking trails and maintaining various wilderness outposts. They help in fighting fires as well. These kids work their tails off. The youngsters have gotten high praise over the years and have survived governors of
various political stripes. I'm happy to know that the California Conservation Corps still exists. Most government programs which are good get dumped by politicians who are trying to appear to save the taxpayers money. Youngsters need to acquire a sense of competence and self-worth. They learn that in the CCC and they do necessary work that enriches the common good. President George H.W. Bush believed that all states should have a CCC program. I agree with him. The Califonia Corps is, of course, patterned after Roosevelt's CCC. Perhaps our new president will get something like this going on a national level?

My father was in the CCC in California during the depression, and he always spoke well of his experiences. I always thought that it should have been kept around as an alternative to welfare. Maybe the new President will link it to a program for kids to pay for college, or any other educational opportunities. The true beauty of this program is that it leaves something useful and permanent for the taxpayers money...